Insights from the 2025 Product Advisory

As the global marketplace evolves, Canadian pulse growers remain well-positioned to meet rising demand for high-quality, sustainably grown crops. And at a time when export standards are tightening and scrutiny is increasing, ensuring our pulses are market-ready has never been more important.

The 2025 Keep it Clean Product Advisory is now available to help growers navigate evolving market requirements and protect Canada's reputation as a trusted supplier. Referring to the Product Advisory when before applying crop protection products helps growers avoid costly residue issues, safeguards the marketability of their crops, and maintains strong relationships with global customers.

What Pulse Growers Need to Know for 2025

1. Glufosinate-Ammonium: Do Not Use on Pulses

Growers are reminded that glufosinate-ammonium remains not registered for use on peas, chickpeas, lentils, dry beans, or faba beans in Western Canada.

Importantly, grain buyers will not accept any pulse crops treated with glufosinate, and no maximum residue limits (MRLs) are established for glufosinate on these crops in key export markets. Even trace residues could lead to rejected shipments.

2. Spray Drones: Not Authorized for Field Crops

While drone technology offers exciting potential, spray drones are not yet authorized by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for applying pesticides to field crops, including pulses.

Using a drone for pesticide application is considered off-label and could result in:

• Unacceptable residue levels

• Market access risks

• Potential enforcement actions

Until regulations catch up, growers are strongly advised to use only ground or aerial application methods currently approved for crop protection products.

3. Flonicamid on Green Lentils – Be Informed

Due to uncertainty with the MRL in the European Union on green lentils, growers are advised to be informed and talk to their grain buyers before using flonicamid. Pulse Canada continues to work closely with the product registrant and distributer to address the uncertainty this growing season, and will provide further updates as they become available.

Unsure if a product is safe to use? Keep it Clean advises growers to talk to their grain buyer before applying products. Their requirements may be stricter than what’s noted on a label or even in the Product Advisory.

Protecting Market Access

As global markets grow more sensitive to how food is produced, pesticide residue limits are becoming an increasingly critical factor in maintaining trade. Known as Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), these legal thresholds determine whether crops meet the requirements of customers at home and abroad, and play a major role in protecting Canada’s export opportunities.

An MRL is the highest level of pesticide residue legally allowed on food products, based on proper application according to label directions. Here's why they matter so much:

• Each export market sets its own MRLs. They can vary widely — and sometimes an MRL doesn’t even exist for a specific product-crop combination.

• Exceeding an MRL, or lacking one altogether, can block shipments. Testing is increasingly frequent and sensitive, and trade disruptions can occur even from unintentional residue issues.

• Canada’s reputation is at stake. Consistent compliance helps maintain our status as a reliable, high-quality supplier.

Put simply: exceeding residue limits can result in rejected loads, financial penalties, lost contracts, and long-term damage to Canada's export markets.

Ensure Your Crops are Market Ready

The continued success of Canadian agriculture depends on every grower taking an informed approach to crop management. The good news is that by following a few best practices, we can protect both our individual businesses and our collective future:

• Use acceptable pesticides only. Only apply pesticides that are registered for use on your crop in Canada, are acceptable to both domestic and export customers, and won’t create trade concerns. Consult the 2025 Product Advisory before applying.

• Always read and follow the label. Always follow the label for application rate, timing and pre-harvest interval (PHI). Applying pesticides without following the label directions is illegal and may result in unacceptable residues in the harvested grain.

• Manage disease pressures. An integrated disease management plan is not only important to maintain the yield and quality of your crops, but also helps to ensure Canada’s canola, cereals and pulses meet the phytosanitary requirements of our export markets.

• Store your crops properly. Proper storage helps to maintain crop quality and keeps the bulk free of harmful cross-contaminants that may create market risk.

• Deliver what you declare. The Declaration of Eligibility affidavit is a legal assertion that your crop is the variety and/or class you have designated, and it was not treated with the crop protection products specified in the declaration to ensure it meets the requirements of our export markets.